Radio apparatus



Aug.A 6, l1935. H. P. PRATT RADIO APPARATUS Filed March' 3l, 1925 yatented ug.' 6, 1935 Niro STA/'rss P RADIO APPARATUS Harry PrestonPratt, Chicago, Ill., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Harry PrestonPratt, William Frederick Grower, Henry Asa Allen, Howard ThompsonBallard, and George Squires Herrington, trustees Trust `ApplicationMarch s1, 1923, 'striai no. 628,962

(ci. 25o-27.5)

8 Claims.

My invention has for its object the method of and apparatus forincreasing the strength, activity and intensity of theelectricaloscillations in radio, power, metal vo r .Wireless circuits, andconsists primarily, of the introduction into said circuit of a vacuumtube with sealed-in terminals or electrodes. By electrical, magnetic,luminous, caloric, energy-radiant, electro-chemical and mechanicalmeans, my method and apparatus will 10 establish, maintain and stabilizean electrical V circuit between theterminals within said vacuum tube,through the conducting medium and polar action of the material particlesthat remain in said tube, or are added to said tube after partialexhaustion has taken place. By such lmeans I am able to utilize andincrease the potential energy stored up in the atomic structure orsubdivisions of matter Within the vacuum tube. By

'means herein described I am able to increase, de-

' 20 crease, concentrate and control and directionalize the movements ofsaid material particles, electrons, atoms and molecules in said tube,and to ionize and electrolyze and to split up and combineelectro-chemically said material particl. As

herein used, material particles refers to all elements as metals, gases,etc.

A further object of my invention is to increase or decrease the numberof electro-magneticand electro-static lines of force within the vacuumtube and to use said lines of force with their` potential energies tocontrol the velocity, the'di# rection, and the velocity and direction ofthe atoms, molecules, ions, moving particles and gases,

so that the force of impact of these moving entitles when substantiallyimpressed upon the electrodes in partial vvacuo will serve to increaseand regulate the activities of themoving entities and change Vthe numberof lines of force and the potentials between terminals in the tube, thus40 varying the strength of thesignals or impulses.

'I'he speed and impact of the atoms, moving particles, etc. which ispart of my discovery depend wholly upon thepotential energy released andthe free path in the tube.v I

45. A further object of my invention and discovery consists in recei gthe initial signals or impulses which are delivered to or transmittedfrom they antenna of a radio apparatus, passing them through what iscommonly known as a primary '5 wire, coil, spiral or solenoid or anequivalent electrical conducting medium, which may be attached to, or incircuit with a tuning device.

In one of my constructions hereinafter explained; a vacuum tube issurrounded with a coil',

' 55 spiral or solenoid which causes'said tube to act acting as- PrattRadio' in the capacity of a core; placing the tubes contents in anelectrostatic and electromagnetic ileld, any oscillatory or pulsatory'impulses or other esst vAPR 9'- i940l signals, passing through the coil,spiral or vacuum I tube, or both, directly or inductively serve 'toaugment andincrease the activity of the vmaterial particles in said tubewhich necessarly responds to the oscillatory tuned impulses and when theinitial signal passes to the point of transformation, amplification anddetection, the signals or im# pulses become .considerably strengthenedand aligned. I

When a signal passes into or outof a vacuum tube of my construction, thematerial particles within the tube are iniluenced according to theirpolarities and respond to the directive energy, that is to say in onedirection or another, depending onthe direction in which the signals arepassing. If oscillatory or alternating, a forward and back spiral ordirect movement is produced. If pulsatory, the movement created, passesin one direction.

In my discovery and construction, theservice .of the filament-platecircuit acts as a conducting medium only, for the purpose oftransferring the superimposed impulses along the `directional line4 i offorce as discussed by me, in the circuit to the receiving instrument.and to more securely establish the electrical connection between thelament and plate electrodes completing the circuit through the medium'ofthe said material particles in the tube.

In the case of the present highly exhausted, flament-heated-tube, thenegative electrons serve tomake it a one-way or uni-directional current.The other two currents, the filament-plate, and oscillatory from thegrid, are not miscible.v The superimposed current follows the directionand movements of the lines of force in the circuit. Consequently, thefilament-plate circuit maintains a constant voltage. The superimposedimpulses with their varied potentials and oscilla-v tions should producepractically no effect whatsoever on the lament plate circuit potential,which always maintains its integrity. Any variations that may takeplace'in the filament-plate circuit, if any, `are due -t'o imperfectcontrolof ,the tube action from other sources, than that of superimposedimpulses.

' Difficulty has been experienced with the present three-element tube bydepending upon the movements of the electronswithout taking intoconsiderationthe atomic gas value contents and control of same withinthe tube. The stream of negative electrons when leaving the filament are2 thrown off in all directions after attacking the plate and are shiftedthrough repellant forces from the plate to the grid and then thenegative stream of electrons through repulsions are split up, moving inevery direction, completely filling the unoccupied portion of the tube,until every particle is repelling every other particle without followingany definite direction. Consequently, al1 of the negativo electronsexist in a disordered or non-directionalized state. This permits thetube to respond readily to all disturbing influences superimposed ornot, brought in with theincoming oscillatory tuned-in signals, of ,allsorts and kinds resulting in the production of the whistling sound asWell as any other inductive or so-called static disturbances so annoyingto the listener. I

These undesirable inductive and static disturbances, are frequentlyproduced within the local circuit, and are strong enough to cause akick-back, or convert'the oscillations of an incoming signal, into theoscillations of. an outgoing or transmitting signal, with the resultthat the squealing and whistling noises. are set `up in theneighboringreceiving sets.

My invention overcomesthese difficulties by Y the release of the energystored up in the atomic structure, and utilizing this energy within thetube, to control and direct the incoming and outgoing signals.

In the accompanying drawings, I have illustrated what I now consider thepreferred form of an embodiment of the essential features of myinvention with several modifications thereof and in these drawings,

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a tube having three spiralelectrodestherein.

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional View through said vacuum tube takenon lines 2-2 of Figure 1, showing the filament spiral.

Figure 3 is a transverse section through said tube on line 3-3 of Figure1, showing the mica rim or disc.

Figure 4 `is a longitudinal, sectional skeleton view of a vacuum tube,similar to Figure 1, having lsjolenoid surrounding the outer surface ofthe Figure 5 is a longitudinal skeleton section of a vacuum tube withtwo refiecting and defl'ecting surfaces connected with an electricalsource ofenergy; interposed between` the reflecting surfaces is a hotfilament which may be attached to and serve as a grid, illustrating bybroken lines the path of asingle line of force, starting from thecenter.

Figure 6 is another longitudinal skeleton section of a vacuum tube witha solenoid surrounding it, to which may be attached inductively orotherwise a tuning device.

Figure '7 is another longitudinal, skeleton section of a vacuum tubewith two reflecting and deflecting surfaces which may or may not beconnected to an electrical source of energy, and having spiralelectrodes attached to any suitable electrical source of energy for thepurpose of heating the center of the spirals. -f

Figure 8 is a similar view illustrating the three elongated spiral wireelectrodes extending the full length of the tube. Any one or all may beconnected to any suitable electrical source of energy. Surrounding thecenter spiral or filament is a non-conductor or dielectric, constructedof mica, or any suitable material for the purpose.

Figure 9 is a transverse section through vacusealed in the glass, andwhich may be securedto a.y battery connection or any other suitablesource of electrical energy (not shovm). These Vreflecting surfaces maybe placed on the outside of the tube as indicated in the fragmentaryview constituting Fig. 10, where the structure is the same as that shownin Fig. 1 except that the refiectingsurfaces corresponding to thesurfaces B and B' of Fig. 1 are placed outside of the tube, and throughthe reflected lines of force which pass into said vacuum tubeinfluencing the movements of the moving particles in the tube to anadvantage under certain conditions.

Between the reflecting surfaces B and B' are three spiral electrodes, C,D and E, representing the filament, the grid and the plate; Theseelectrodes are placed in clo'se parallel relationship with each otherbut spaced apart and held or secured with electrical connectors orleaders passing through and sealed in the glass forming the tube andconnected to a battery or to any suitable source of electrical energy.

Interposed between thegrid/D and plate or spiral E, is a mica disc orwasher F, which is shown in Figure 3. This Washer acts as a dielectric,forming a condensing surface and operates similar to a Leyden jar. Whenheated by the filament or any other, source of heat, this disc F throwsoff gases which serve as one method of connecting electrically thefilament, grid and plate. v

The filament, grid and plate C, D and E, may be in any shape or form,but are preferably flat or elongated spirals or plates, or both forpurposes above described.y The two terminals or leaders cand c' haveconnection with a battery or any other suitable source of electricalenergy (not shown). Leads d and e, extend respectively from the grid Dand plate E and serve as connecting wires. The wires b and b' 4may ormay not be connected to the filament or plate but may be connected upseparately. The filament,

grid and plate C, D and E as shown in Figure 1, are of the flat spiralform and are arranged in -close proximity to each other capable ofproducing a highly inductive e'fiect, which increases the capacity ofthe tube. The concentrated and directed lines of force are shown at a2in Figure 1.

In Figure 2, I have shown the filament, grid and plate, constructed inspiral form for use as' shown as in Figure 1. inductively the same as aninduction coil. This greatly increases the capacity of the tube. Themica vdisc F, shown in Fig. 3, may be constructed as a disc or washer,or it may be tubular in form (see Figure 8) or any other desired shape.This washer or disc may also be constructed of a thin layer of glassperforated with holes if desired to separate the electrodes and like themica disc prevent the electrodes-'from buckling and also .acting as asupport or frame work or may be When excited, they act mica or asubstitute may be prepared with a chemical of any of the activeelements, metals or salts, which when heated, gives oi'gases whichiniiuence the degree of vacuum. Any of the inert or highly activeelectro-positive and electro-negative gases may be inserted in the tubeto increase its eiiiciency.

The two reflecting surfaces B and B',sFigure'1, are positioned nearopposite ends of the tube A. The spiral electrodes C, D and E composingthe filament, the grid and the plate with a sheet of mica. F interposedbetween the grids D and plate E, are positioned between said reectingsurfaces.' The mica disc may be entirely dispensed with.

The novel principle involved in the structures shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 7is the movement of the energized particles or lines of force strikingthe curved reecting surfaces which follow the heat and light rays,causing concentration of the material particles toward the center of thetube, thereby decreasing the electrical resistance within the tube. InFig.4 5, the arrows point to the direction in which the materialparticles or lines of force pass in going from one curved reiiecting`surface to the other. This tube with the electrodes properly built andbalanced is an oscilla* tory tube, and not a valve acting tube. Thelament circuit C at the point O may be of the shape shown, or any otherdesired shape. The same thing is true in regard to Fig. 7.

In Fig. 6 the two reflecting surfaces are employed without the centralfilament, with a solenoid on the outside of the tube. Every oscillationof the circuit on the outside of the tube drives the charged materialparticles within the tube so' that they are thrown backwards andforwards with every oscillation or reversal of the V- solenoid energy.While B3 in Fig. 6: B5 in Fig. 5

indicate batteries, it4 will be understood that there are other means ofproducing electrical energy other than the form shown. In the4 structureshown in Figs. 4, 5 and 7, the electrical energy responds in the samemanner as it does in the structure shown in Fig. l.

In the form shown in Fig. 6 in the absence of light or heat in thecenter of the tube, these particles follow the oscillatory changeswithin the tube withoutthe directional aid of the heat and light rayswhich in the other cases are thrown out from the heated filaments.

In the structure shown in Fig. 8, the movements are radically differentfrom those of the forms shown in Figs. l, 4, 5, 6 and 7. In said Fig. 8there ar'e practically three separate coils of wire which areinductively connected, the inner one G of which may be made .to servethe purpose of a nlament with or without being heated. The second ormiddle coil G' can serve as a grid. The outer coil G1 c an serve as theplate. This is of an induction coil formation which serves as an air or.vacuum core induction coil or transformer. The center coil or the innercoil or filament G of Fig. 8 has surrounding it, a tubing F which ismade of a composition which is secured in the mica tubing in which theheated or gaseous particles crossthe path `from the heated portion overpast the grid to the outer coil.

Fig. 9 is a cross, section showing a different construction in whichthere is a difference in the size of the lament wire, the centralportion e being smaller than the outer portion e' and consequently themore intense is the heat thrown out at that point. The coil has avarying heating surface from the center to the periphery thereof.

1. A vacuum tube having a plurality of inductively related spiralelectrodes therein, each electrode being progressively thicker in crosssection from one end to the other with the portion thicker in crosssection surrounding that portionof the electrode thinner in crosssection.

2. A thermionic tube, Vhaving -curved concentrating electrodes therein,said electrodes having opposed reiiecting surfaces, and other electrodesinterposed between said reflecting surfaces, the focal axis of saidreflecting surfaces intersecting one of said other electrodes. A

3. A vacuum tube envelope having curved concentrating electrodestherein, said electrodes having opposed reiiecting surfaces, and otherAelec.

trodes interposed between said reiiecting surfaces,

each of said other electrodes being in the form of a ilat spiral, thefocal axis of said reflecting surfaces intersecting one of said otherelectrodes.

4. A vacuum tube envelope having curved concentrating electrodestherein, said electrodes having opposed reflecting surfaces, and otherelectrodes interposed between said reflecting surfaces and including afilament, a grid arid a plate, the focal axis of said reflectingsurfaces intersecting one of said other electrodes.

5. A vacuum tube envelope having curved concentrating electrodestherein, said electrodes having opposed reflecting surfaces, otherelectrodes interposed between said reectingvsurfaces, and

a solenoid surrounding said envelope, the focaly for emitting materialparticles when heated by I the filament.

8. A vacuum tube envelope housing a plurality of coil electrodes, eachelectrode having adjacent turns spaced from one another, said electrodesbeing inductively related to each other, and a dielectric member havingedges interposed between two of said electrodes, one of said edges beingseparated from said envelope. v

HARRY PRESTON PRATI.

' pat'enm. ze'oloees.- Auguste, '1935.'

Emy *enmsr'on PRATT;

It. is hereby certified that error appears in the abofve I-zumbered.lpatent requrngeorrecton as follows: In the drawing,

the Fig. 10 as 'shawn below gshculd be inserted as a partof the LetterePgtent: A

and chatche said Le'nprs patent shmn be read with thisV cor. recticn`therein that the same may conform to the'.record of the case l in thePaf'e n't" Office.

' l signed' ma ala this 1st ymy o: mmm-1a. n. 1935.

. M l x Enger Seal) v "Atngtonmesioner of Patents.

